THE APPEARANCE OF TORGHUDJEH BEG.
Torghudjeh was the son of a rayah called Veli, and was born at a village in the neighbourhood of Seroloz, of the sanjak of Mantesheh. Being of a brave spirit, at an early age he excelled in archery and wrestling. He afterwards applied himself to navigation, in which he acquired considerable fame, and was made capudan of a privateer. On one occasion, as he was oiling his vessel, Oghlan, an infidel captain, fell upon him, and carried him prisoner to Genoa. On this account Khair-ad-din Pasha sailed against the Genoese with a fleet, threatening that if they did not give up Torghudjeh he would spoil all their villages: whereupon they immediately released him. The pasha also in a divan spoke so highly of him, saying, Torghudjeh was braver than himself, that they gave him a galley. After this he was in numerous engagements with Khair-ad-din Pasha in the south, by which he became rich, and increased the number of his ships to twenty-five, with which he began to cruise about. Having obtained information of the position of Senan Pasha, who was then at sea, he came out to meet him from the south. On their approach they saluted each other; but the salute from Torghudjeh’s ships being much louder than that of Senan Pasha, the latter suspected him; and artfully representing to the Porte that his not joining him was a proof of disaffection, and that to subdue him would be a difficult matter, recommended that he should be called to the capital. Thither Torghudjeh immediately proceeded with eight vessels, and made offers of submission. With him also came his brave companions in arms, Ghazi Mustaffa, Oluj Ali, Hassan Keleh, Mohammed Reis, Sanjakdar Reis, Deli Jafar, and Kara Kazi, to each of whom a fanar,[46] and a stipend of seventy or eighty aspres were allotted. Both before and after his journey to the Sublime Porte, Torghudjeh was engaged in several memorable battles; a few of which we shall mention.